National Azabu to host Japanese food fair

The Japan External Trade Organization will hold a “Japan Fair,” event in which consumers, mainly non-Japanese, will be able to try a wide variety of Japanese food prepared by companies selling Japanese food, tea and alcoholic beverages (except sake), at National Azabu supermarket in the Hiroo district of Tokyo’s Minato Ward.

Visitors can also buy the food showcased at the event, which runs from Friday to Monday, at the supermarket, which is famous for imported food, nestled in a neighborhood known for its many embassies and non-Japanese residents. Visitors will be asked to answer some brief questionnaires from participating companies.

At the event, about 100 items will be on sale, with 10 companies displaying their products inside the store and another 10 outside. Additionally, there will be cooking demonstrations outside the supermarket.

National Azabu draws about 1,600 customers on weekdays and between 2,000 and 2,500 on weekends. Non-Japanese make up about 60 percent of the supermarket’s customers and generate about 80 percent of its sales. The supermarket is conveniently located about three minutes from Hiroo Station.